Drop side for folding cribs



Oct. 3, 1950 H. M. SHEALEY 2,524,483 DROP SIDE FOR FOLDING cares FiledJuly 22, "1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v fed/g1 Oct. 3, 1950 H. M. SHEALEY DROPSIDE FOR FOLDING CRIB S 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR. dry-y Mflgay e w Ar/'01P: Y5

Filed July 22, 1946 Patented Oct. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEDROP SIDE FOR FOLDING CRIBS Harry M. Shealey, Hagerstown, Md.Application July 22, 1946, Serial No. 685,535

3 Claims. I

This invention relates to baby cribs,and more particularly to foldin orcollapsible cribs. An object of this invention is to provide an improvedfoldin or collapsible crib which will in its folded position require aminimum of space whereby the crib may readily be stored in hotel rooms,apartments, and in a vehicle while travelling.

Another object of .this invention is to provide an improved collapsiblecrib which may be changed from either the folded or extended positionvery readily with a minmum of effort and requiring the use of no toolsfor the change and whereby there will be no loose or unattached parts tobe scattered or lost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding bed of the kindto be more specifically described hereinafter in which the springs andbedding may be folded within the folded crib whereby the crib will becompletely self contained with bedding and springs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible crib havingfull adjustable side panels which may be folded intermediate theirlength one end of each being quickly detachable from one of the endpanels for folding the crib.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a crib of this kindhaving an end supported foldin spring suspension, the spring panel beinghingedly secured at each end to a solid spring end shelf firmly securedto the end panels for supporting the spring panel against concentratedimpact load forces.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible babycrib which is of a substantial construction to provide ample strengthfor such a bed yet remaining sufiiciently light in weight to be readilyportable and which is of such a simple construction as to be readilymanufactured at an economical cost whereby it may be retailed at areasonable price.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fullyappear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combinationand arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understoodthat changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to whichfall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

v Figure 1 is a top perspective view, partly broken away, of a cribconstructed according to an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective detail of an upper rod fitting onthe end panel of the crib, the'end panel partly broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective detail of a lower rod fitting on theend panel, the end panel and rod being broken away.

Figure 4 is a perspective detail view of the side panel fitting, theside panel being broken away.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified type of crib, partly brokenaway.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of an upper rod fitting on the end panel,the rod and panel being broken away.

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 1-4! of Figure 8.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the removable side panelfitting, the panel being partly broken away.

Figure 9 is a perspective view, partly broken away, and partly insection of the folded crib in a covering.

, Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective detail of a modified form of rodfitting.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the hinge lock member.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 20 designates generally acollapsible crib having a pair of opposite end panels 2| and 22 and apair of opposite folding side panels 24 and 25. A hinged folding springpanel 36 is hingedly secured at the ends thereof to the end panels 2|and 22.

The end panels 2| and 22 are formed with an outer frame having a pair ofvertical side frame members 26 and 21 and a pair of horizontal framemembers 28 and 29 fixedly connected between the vertical members 26 and21 near the upper and lower ends of the vertical members. The lowerhorizontal frame members 29 are spaced upwardly from the lower end ofthe vertical members and 2?.

Fixed to the end panels 2! and 22 there is provided a shelf 30 whichextends horizontally inwardly of the panels 2| and 22 and the lowerhorizontal frame members 29. The shelves 30 are fixedly attached to theend panels 2| and 22 by right angular brackets 3| which are fastened tothe outer edges of the shelves 30 and the vertical frame members 26 and21 by bolts 32 or other suitable fastening devices. Across the innerupper edge of the shelf 3|] there is fixed one side 34 of a piano hinge35 the barrel of which overhangs this inner upper edge. I

The spring panel 36 of the bed 20, which may be of the flat strip springtype as shown in Figure 1 or a coiled type as shown in Figure 6, has

secured to the end frame members 31 thereof the cooperating other sideas of the piano hinge 35 for hingedly engagin the shelves 30 in such amanner that the spring panel 36 may be moved upwardly relative to theshelves 30 and lie in a plane parallel to the plane of the end panels 2|and 22 inwardly between the panels 2| and 22. The spring panel is formedof two frames hingedly connected together at their inner ends by a pianohinge 39 as shown in Figure 9.

For connecting the side panels to the end panels there are provided rods40 fixed to the vertical frame members 26 at each of the four corners ofthe bed 26. The rods 40 extend vertically along the length of themembers 26"and are spaced inwardly therefrom. The rods 40 are secured tothe frame members 26"at the'upper and lower end of the rods 40 bybrackets 4|. The brackets 4| are substantially L-shaped having the arm42 thereof secured .to the member 26" by bolts 44 or other suitablefastening means and the ex- --tending i-arm' '45' is of a shorter widththan the arm 42 and is formed near its outere'nd with an annu'la'ropenin 46 having a pair of opposed slots M1 :extending radiallytherefrom. The ends of the rods 40 are counterbored and'threaded forreceivinga screw'48 anda pair of oppositely extending radial ears 49 arefixed on the ends of :the rod dfl for aligningthe'rod W in the'brackets4|. The screw 48'engages through the opening 546 andinto: therod '40,the head of the screw bearing' against the'o'uterside of the bracket 4|for securing the rod 40 thereto. The'uppe'r and lower brackets 4|'are'offsimilar construction being merely overturned to suit theparticular location. 7

A' pair f of opposite foldingside panels '56 are slidably supported onthe end panels-2i an d 22. 'Theside panelsSfl are formed of arectangular frame having vertical end me'mbers' fi I- and horizontalupper and lower members 52. The'horizontalfmembers 52 are divided midwaytheir length and hingedlyconnected together by a hinge id on the outer'surface of the members 52 whereby the side panels 50 may be foldedinwardly. Oneach of the members 52 inwardly of the panels lfinthere iszprovided'a latch 55 for 'locking'the 'members 52 in'extende'd position."Ihe latch 55 isformed ofa pair of hinge sections 6 562' secured ontoadjacent sections of the horizontal side panel frame members 52 eachhaving a :spliti'barrel' orfa flange 5'5 on the cooperating endsthereof. 9A. resilientsti'ip of metal 58 is secured 'at--one"end to='onehinge section 56 and is pro- :vided with ailange or keeper fifiengageable between the flanges 5'! for holding the side panels50..againstf folding. A-fhan'clle 60 is attachedto the free end of'thekeeper '58 for releasing the flangei 59f from between: the flanges 51for folding the side panels.

At oneendof eachof the side panels fiil near the upperend. of thevertical membersbl there is fixed a tubular guidemem'ber 6| engageableabout the rod 40. forslida'bly mountingthe side panels. 56 'tothe endpanels 22: and-23Q The tubular.'.guide members 6| extend'verticall.along a short; distance ofthe length-f the members 5| and extendoutwardly: from the outerendsthereof; AttaChing p1ates-62 are securedto-the 'guide tubes: 6| by weldin 01' other suitable fastening means-andextend inwardly to be. secured to the inner side of theverticalfmembersfil 'by'screws 'ori'bolts. :A resilient spring plate 64is-secured to' the guide tube- 62 on'one side thereof at: one =endl-ofthe' plate or member- 66 and a lug 65' fixed on the -free end of thespring 64 is=-adaptedto be opposite erid panels- 2 or 22'.

urged through an opening 66 in the tube 6| and into one hole 61 of therod for latching the side panels 5|] in selected vertical positionrelative to the end panels 22 and 23, the rods 4|! being provided with aseries of vertically spaced apart opening 61. A handle 68 is looselyattached to the free end of the spring 64 for disengaging the lug fromthe tube 6| and rod 40.

At the other end of each of the side panels 50 a guide tube 6| isremovably attached for removably and slidably attaching the panels 50 atone end to the end panels 2| or 22. The tube 6| is constructed the sameat each end of the panel 50 with theiexception of the plates 62. On theremovable guide tubes 6| the plates 69 secured to each end of'the tube6| are formed with an inwardlyextendingglug m which is adapted to engagein an opening in the member 5| and with a threaded opening above the lug10. A plate 12 is secured to the opposite side of the member havingaknurled head 76 engages through the plate- 12; frame member 5| andthreadably'engages in the' opening "H of plate '69 for securing the.plate 69 on to'the frame member 5 In l igure ll there-is shown amodified form of rod and fittingi'for attaching the rod Ml-to the endpanels 2| and 22. This rod 46a is flattened on theend and reverted intoa U-shaped bracket flla A modified form or end panel is'shown in Figure5 --wherein a solid end wall 80' is fixed. in the frames 2 and 22 toexclude drafts from the crib 20 and beneath the wall BO-there is:provided a utility cabinet 8| for storing often use'd'babyapparel, thecabinet-80' having a"downwardlyhinged door or closure 8'2;

one-erid-"bf theside panels 56, the'screws 15hr opposite panelsbeing-atopposite ends thereof, whereby one-'guide fi'l of each side panel50*will be removed therefrompremaining on its respective end 46, leavingeach side panel 50 secured to The-side panels Stare now movedto theiruppermost position on the rods'Mr-and fol'ded'inwardl against theirrespective end-panels 2| and 22 by releasingthe keepers 59 from thelatches 55. The spring panel 36 may then-be folded upwardly from theinwardly e'xt'eridingshelves 3Q, with or without the mattress inposition. The crib 261s now inits fully-foltled pos'ition and may bestored in a fabric"covering'90 'having a zipper closureorinothersuitable=storing containers or may simply be stored' as"folded.

do not'mean to confine myself to the exact 'detailsof constructionherein disclosed but claim all-variations falling within the purview ofthe appended' cla'im's.

Having thus described my invention, what -'I claim is:

1. A collapsible crib -of-the kind described comprisirigapainof oppositeend frames, an inwardly extending shelf 'on'sa'id frames, a spring panel'hingedly-securd to -said' shelves, a hinge on said spring panel midwaythe length thereof whereby said spring panel may be folded upwardly,side panels on said crib, a hinge on said side panels whereby said sidepanels may be folded inwardly, vertical rods on said end frame spacedinwardly therefrom, tubes on the ends of said side panels slidable onsaid rods for slidably mounting said side panels on said end frames,correlated means carried by said tubes and rods for holding said sidepanels in selected position, a plate fixed to each of said tubesengageable with one side of a side panel, a second plate fixed on theopposite side of said side panel, a lug on said first plate engageablein said panel, and a screw slidable through said second plate and saidpanel threadably engaging said first plate, 1

2. A collapsible crib of the kind described comprising end panels, afolding bottom panel and folding side panels between said end panels,rods fixed on said end panels, tubular members on said side panelsslidable on each of said rods, a spring-pressed pin on each of saidtubular members engageable in an opening in the associated rod forpositioning said side panels on each of said rods, 3. lug on saidtubular members engageable in its associated side panel for positioningsaid tubular members thereon, screws projecting through apertures insaid side members, and threaded means on said tubular memberscooperating with said screws for removably securing said tubular membersthereon.

3. A collapsible crib of the kind described I comprising end panels, afolding bottom panel and folding side panels between said end panels,rods fixed on said end panels, tubular members on said side panelsslidable on each of said rods, a spring-pressed pin on each of saidtubular members engageable in an opening in its associated rod forpositioning said side panels on said rods, a lug on each of said tubularmembers engageable in its associated side panel for positioning saidtubular members thereon and screws engaging through said tubular membersand said side panels removably securing said tubular members thereon.

HARRY M. SHIEALEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 646,347 Betty Mar. 2'7, 19001,142,948 Esterbrook June 15, 1915 1,475,537 Bradle Nov. 27, 19231,846,673 Brown Feb. 23, 1932 1,989,149 Pennock Jan. 29, 1935 2,031,284Smith Feb. 18, 1936 2,043,072 Schmitt June 2, 1936 2,203,921 Padjen June11, 1940 2,266,370 Kratky Dec. 16, 1941 FQREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate

